Suitcase



July 21, 1964 E. F. HAMILTON SUITCASE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 21, 1964 E. F. HAMlLToN 3,141,535

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United States Patent O 3,141,535 SUI'ICASE Earl F. Hamilton, Columbus, Ind., assigner to Hamilton Cosco, Inc., Columbus, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Sept. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 226,649 17 Claims. (Cl. 19u- 41) This invention relates to a suitcase, and has for its objects the provision of a suitcase which will be of attractive appearance, which can support garments therein on hangers, which can be fully opened into a self-supporting position, which can releasably support an inner suitcase, and which will be light in weight yet prove sturdy and durable in use.

According to the preferred form of my invention, there is provided an outer ease comprising a shell having a back panel connected to three interconnected upstanding side walls. The shell is swingably connected to a hinge panel swingable between an open position generally coplanar with the bottom panel and a closed position normal to said back panel and engaging the ends of a pair of said side walls. A lid is swingably interconnected to said hinge panel for swinging movement with and with respect to said hinge panel between an open position generally coplanar with the back panel and a closed position overlying said back panel and engaging the side wall edges remote from said back panel.

Conveniently, mounting means are provided on the inner faces of a pair of said side walls for releasably retaining an inner case within said outer case in spaced relationship to said back panel and lid when said lid and hinge panel are in their closed position. Said inner case comprises a shell having a back panel and four upstanding side walls rigidly connected thereto. A lid is swingably interconnected to one of said side walls for a swinging movement between an open position generally normal to the shell back panel and a closed position overlying said back panel and engaging the side wall edges remote from said back panel.

A generally U-shaped standard is swingably interconnected at its ends to the lid and one of the outer case side walls. The bight of said standard comprises a plurality of telescoping and pivotally interconnected sections which permit said standard to be moved from a retracted position in which it is carried within said case adjacent one of the outer case side walls and an extended position extending the length of the outer case when said case is in its open position. In its extended position, the standard projects outwardly from the outer case with one of its ends engaging the iioor for thus retaining said outer case in an upright fully opened position. A plurality of hangers are mounted on the upper end of said standard and are adapted to hold a plurality of garments thereon in a free hanging position when said case is open and the standard is in its extended position and in a position folded over the inner case when said standard is in its retracted position and the outer case is in its closed position.

Other objects and features of my invention will become apparent from the more detailed description which follows and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a suitcase embodying my invention and showing said suitcase in its fully open position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged front elevation of the suitcase shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the standard-outer case interconnection;

ICC

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section of an upper portion of the standard;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the inner case, and showing the same in open position;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section through the inner case shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a horizontal section taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. l1 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 3;

FIG. l2 is a vertical section taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 2, but showing the outer case and standard in their closed and retracted positions, respectively; and

FIG. 13 is a horizontal section taken on the line 13--13 of FIG. 3.

My invention comprises an outer case adapted to house an inner case and provided with case-supporting standard. Both the outer and inner cases may be packed with garments such as skirts, ties, etc. which may be compactly folded without excessive wrinkling. The standard is adapted to carry a plurality of hangers upon which garments such as suits, dresses, etc., which are more susceptible to wrinkling when they are folded may be hung. The standard supports such garments within the outer case in positions such that they are folded over the inner case when the outer case is closed to provide smooth folds in said garments to obviate any excessive wrinkling therein.

As illustrated in the drawings, the outer case comprises a shell 15 having three interconnected side walls formed from a generally U-shaped metal panel 16 having its longitudinal edges bent outwardly, as at 17 and 18. A U- shaped molding strip 20 has an elongated generally C-shaped channel 22 formed along one of its edges and said channel is bindingly crimped over the panel edge 17. The opposite edge of the molding strip 20 is provided with an upwardly projecting knife edge 24 extending the length of the shell side walls. The opposite longitudinally extending panel edge 18 is connected to a second generally U-shaped molding strip 26 having a longitudinally extending generally L-shaped channel 28 bindingly crimped over the edge 18. As shown in FIG. 3, the end of the molding strip 26 opposite the channel 28 also defines a longitudinal extending channel 29 normal to the channel 2S in which the edge of a fabric sheet 30 is received, the portions of said sheet within the extent of the shell 15 constituting the shell back panel. The peripheral edge of the sheet 30 is hemmed, as at 32, around a stiftening member 34, and said hem and member are inserted in the molding channel 29. To bindingly retain said hem and stiffening member in the channel 29, a resilient gasket 36 is carried in said channel between one face thereof and the hem 32, said gasket having an outwardly projecting bead 37 received in a mating recess formed in the face of the adjacent channel leg. The ends of the molding strips 2li and 26 are beveled adjacent the ends of the panel 16, and a pair of molding strips 40 are mounted on the ends of the panel 16. The ends of molding strips 40 are also beveled to form miter joints 41 with the beveled ends of the molding strips 20 and 26. Each of the molding strips 40 has a cross-sectional configuration like that of the molding strip 20 to thus provide each of said molding strips 40 with a channel 42 bindingly crimped over the adjacent end of the panel 16 and with a longitudinal knife edge projection 43. Conveniently, a pair of triangular braces 44 and 45 are carried against the panel 16 adjacent each of its ends. Outwardly bent lips 46 are formed along a pair of the edges of EZ each brace with the lips 46 on the braces 44 bindingly retained in the molding channels 22 and 42 and the lips 46 on the braces 45 bindingly retained in the molding channels 29 Vand 42.

As shown in FlGS. 1 and 3, the beveled ends of the molding strip 26 project outwardly beyond the molding strips 40 and are swingably connected to a pair of rnolding strips 48 forming the ends of a hinge panel 50. The opposed ends of the molding strips 4S are beveled, as at 52, with the ends of said strips adjacent the ends of the molding strip 26 being connected thereto by a transversely extending hinge plate 54 comprising an arcuate central web 56 interconnecting a pair of beads 58 and 59. The bead 58 is rotatably carried in a pair of transversely aligned openings 6i) formed in the molding strip 26 adjacent the ends thereof, and the bead 59 is rotatably carried in transversely aligned openings 62 formed in the molding strips 48. In this manner, the hinge panel 511 is swingable about the axes of the beads 58 and 59 between a closed position in which the molding strips 48 abut the molding strips 41B and an open position in which the molding strips 48 may be disposed in generally coplanar alignment with the molding strips 26.

As shown in FIG. 13, each of the molding strips 48 is provided with an elongated channel 64 adapted to mate with the knife edge 43 on the adjacent molding strip 40 when the hinge panel 50 is moved into its closed position. Conveniently, a resilient tubular gasket 66 is mounted in each of the channels 64 to form a seal against the knife edge 43 on the adjacent molding strip 40 when the hinge panel is moved into its closed position. A second channel 68 is formed in each of the molding strips 48 normal to the channel 64 for the reception of the aligned portion of the hem 32 and the stiening member 34 encapsulated therein. As with the molding strip 26, a gasket 69 is interposed between the hem 32 and one leg of the channel 68, with said gasket having a bead 7l) received in a mating recess formed in said one channel leg for bindingly retaining the hem 32 in said channel.

The hinge panel 50 is swingably interconnected to a lid 73 comprising a U-shaped molding strip 74 connected to the fabric sheet 3l). As shown in FIG. 3, the molding 74 lhas a cross-sectional conguration like the molding strips 48 and comprises a channel 75 carrying a resilient tubular gasket 76 and adapted to be received over the knife edge 24 of the molding strip 20 when the outer case is in its closed position. A second channel 78 is bindingly received over the aligned portion of the hem 32 and its encapsulated stiflening member 34 with said hem being bindingly retained in the channel 78 by a. U-shaped resilient gasket 80 interposed between the hem 32 and one leg of said channel, said gasket having an outwardly projecting Vbead 81 received in a mating recess formed in the adjacent leg of the channel 78.

The ends of the molding 74 are beveled, as at 82, to abut the adjacent beveled ends of the molding strips 48 on the hinge panel 50 when the case is in its closed position. The hinge panel 50 and lid '73 are swingably interconnected by a transversely extending arcuate hinge plate 84 comprising a web 75 interconnecting a pair of beads 86 and 87. The bead 86 is rotatably carried in a pair of transversely aligned openings 88 formed in the molding strips 48, and the bead 87 is rotatably carried in a pair of aligned openings 89 formed in the molding strip 74 adjacent the ends thereof. In this manner, the lid 73 is swingable with the hinge panel 50 about the axes of the beads 58 and 59 and is further swingable with respect to said hinge panel about the axes of the beads 86 and 87 between a closed position in which the molding channel 75 is received over the knife edge 24 of the molding strip 2lb and an open position in which said lid, the hinge panel 50, and the back panel of the shell formed by the sheet 30 are disposed in coplanar alignment with each other. Conveniently, end caps 90 and 91 are mounted on the ends of the hinge plates 54 and 84, as by screws 92, and act in combination with the sheet 30 to hide the hinge interconnections between the hinge panel 58 and the shell 15 and the lid 73.

As shown in FIG. l, a pair of cooperating latches 93 and keepers 94 of any desired construction may be mounted on the lid 73 and shell 15 for retaining the hinge panel 50 and lid 73 in case-closed position. And the case is provided with a handle 95 for carrying it about. To this end, a pair of transversely spaced sheet-metal brackets 96 are mounted on the underside of the hinge panel 5t). Each of the brackets 96 is provided at its opposed ends with hooks 98 which are received over the bead 59 and 86 on the hinge plates 54 and 84 for mounting said brackets on the hinge panel. The brackets 96 cross-brace the hinge panel 5l) and are also connected to loops 181 mounted on ends of the handle 95 and extending through the fabric sheet 30 for thus mounting said handle on the hinge panel.

As shown in F163. 2, the outer case is adapted to carry an inner case within it in spaced relation to the walls of said outer case. Said inner case comprises a shell 104 formed from generally U-shaped metal panel 166 bent outwardly along its longitudinally extending edges, as at 1117 and 1138. A generally U-shaped molding strip 118 having a cross-sectional conguration corresponding to molding strip 2@ extends around the upper edge of the panel 106. As shown in FIG. 9, the molding strip 11! has a longitudinally extending I..s'naped channel bindingly crimped over the panel edge 187 and a knife edge projection 112 extending the length thereof.

A second molding strip 114 also having a U-shaped conguration and cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the molding strip 26 extends around the lower edge 108 of the panel 106. As shown in FIG. 9, the molding strip 114 has a longitudinally extending L-shaped channel 115 bindingly crimped over the panel edge 108 for mounting said molding thereon. A second channel 116 normal to the channel 115 extends the length of the molding strip 114 and receives the aligned portion of a peripheral hem 118 formed on a fabric sheet 121), the hem 118 having a stiifening member 122 encapsulated therein. A U-shaped gasket 123 is interposed between the hem 118 and one leg of the channel 116, with said gasket having a longitudinally extending bead 124 received in a mating recess formed in said one channel leg for bindingly retaining the hem in said channel.

The panel 186 and the molding strips 116 and 114 mounted thereon form three of the side walls of the shell 1114. The fourth side wall of the shell is formed by a pair of molding strips 125 connected to the ends of the panel 106 and the hem 118 on the portion of the fabric sheet extending between said molding strips. Each of the molding strips has a cross-sectional conguration corresponding to the molding strips 114 and is thus provided with a generally L-shaped chanel 126 which is bindingly crimped over the adjacent outwardly bent end 127 of the panel 106. Conveniently, as shown in FIG. 9, a pair of generally triangular braces 128 are bindingly received in the channels 126 of the holding strips 125 and the panel-receiving channels of the molding strips 111) and 114. A pair of edges on each of the braces 128 have outwardly directed lips 129 for rigidly retaining said braces in a xed position in the molding strips 110, 114, and 125 and thus bracing said molding strips against any movement with respect to each other.

Each of the molding strips 125 is connected to the hem 118 of the fabric sheet 128 as by said hem being received in a channel 130 normal to the chanel 126 and bindingly retained therein by a gasket 132 identical in cross-sectional configuration to the gasket 123. The adjacent ends of the molding strips 125 and 110 and 114 are beveled to form mitered joints 134, and the adjacent ends of the molding strips 125 and 114 are further rigidly interconnected by a transversely extending plate 136 comprising an arcuate web 137 interconnecting a pair of beads 138 and 139 which are bindingly retained in fixed positions in aligned openings formed in the molding strips 125 and 114 adjacent the ends thereof.

Each of the molding strips 125 is connected to a lid 142 formed from a generally `U-shaped molding strip 144 connected to the aligned portions of the peripheral hem 118 on the fabric sheet 129. The ends of the molding strip 144 are beveled, as at 145, and are swingably connected to the molding strips 125 by a transversely extending hinge plate 146 comprising an arcuate web 147 interconnecting a pair of beads 145 and 149 rotatably carried in aligned openings formed in the molding strips 125 and 144 for permitting the lid 142 to swing about the axes of the beads 148 and 149 between a case-closed position in which the lid molding 144 is received on the shell 104 and a case-open position in which said lid is generally normal to said shell.

As shown in FIG. 9, the molding strip 144 has a channel 150 extending along one of its longitudinal edges and carrying a resilient tubular gasket 152, whereby upon movement of the lid 142 into its closed position said channel is received over the knife edge 112 on the molding strip 11@ with the gasket 152 sealing the connection therebetween. A second channel 154 is formed in the molding 142 normal to the channel 151B and is received over the hem 118 and the stiffening member 122 carried therein for thus connecting the sheet 121i to the molding 144. A U-shaped resilient gasket 156 having the same cross-section of conguration as the gaskets 123 and 132 is interposed between the hem 118 and one leg of the channel 154 for bindingly retaining said hem in the channel 154. The interconnections of the molding strips 144 and 114 to the molding strips 125 are hidden by the sheet 121i and by pairs of end caps 157 extending over the sheet 121i and mounted on the case by screws 159 extending outwardly from the plates 136 and 146.

Conveniently, a pair of cooperative latches 155 and keepers 160 of any desired construction are mounted on the molding strips 141i and 111i for releasably locking the inner case in closed position. And as with the outer case, the beads 135 and 14S on the plates 136 and 146 are connected to the hooked ends 162 of a pair of brackets 164 extending between said plates. The brackets 164 are connected to a pair of loops 165 projecting through the sheet 120 and connected to a carrying handle 166.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, a pair of plates 168 are mounted on the opposed sides of the panel 1196. Each of the plates 168 is provided with a vertically extending slot 171i, the edges of which are inclined upwardly and outwardly, as shown in FIG. 2. The slot 171i in one of the plates 16S is receivable over a headed pin 172 mounted on the inner face of the outer case panel 16. And as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the slot 171) of the other plate 163 is receivable over a headed pin 173 projecting inwardly from a sheet-metal bracket 174 mounted on the opposite inner face of the outer case panel 16, as by rivets 175. In this manner, the inner case is supported within the outer case in spaced relation to the walls thereof on the pins 172 and 173 with the inclined edges of the slots 170 tending to retain said inner case in a fixed position on said pins. However, by lifting the inner case to raise the plates 168 off of the pins 172 and 173, said inner case may be removed from the outer case and carried independently thereof.

One of the advantages of my luggage construction is the provision of means for carrying garments therein on hangers which permit said garments to be disposed in smooth folds over the inner case to prevent them from becoming unduly wrinkled. To this end, I mount a standard within the outer case upon which such garments may be supported when the outer case is in both its closed and open positions. As shown in FIG. l, said standard has a generally U-shaped configuration and is formed from a plurality of pivotally and telescopically interconnected tubular sections. The lower section of the standard has a generally L-shape with one of its arms flattened, as at 181, to clear the bottom of the inner case and swingably connected to pivot plate 182 by a rivet 184. The pivot plate 182 is provided with a pair of concentric, downwardly projecting, annular beads 185 for supporting said pivot plate in an elevated position above a reinforcing plate 186 mounted on the web portion of the outer case panel 16. As shown in FIG. 4, the reinforcing plate 186 is connected to the panel 16 by the rivet 184 and by a plurality of rivets 188, one of the rivets 13S also extending through the pivot plate 182. The reinforcing plate 186 has a plurality of stiflening beads 190 and a pair of laterally spaced upwardly projecting blisters 192 engageable with the lower face of the arm 180 when the standard is in its retracted position for releasably retaining the standard in such retracted position.

The arm 180 is normal to and continuous with an upwardly extending arm 193 having its end remote from the arm 151D attened, as at 194, and pivotally connected by a pin to the flattened end 196 of a second standard section 197. The arm and section ends 194 and 196 are flattened so as to permit section 197 to swing in a single plane about the pin 195 through an are of 180 degrees between a retracted position in which it is generally parallel with the arm 193 and an extended position in which it projects upwardly from said arm. The opposite end of the section 197 is telescopically interconnected to the arm 198 of a generally L-shaped upper standard section. As shown in FiG. 5, the arm 193 is received in the section 197 and is releasably locked in the desired position therein by a spring 199 carried in the arm 15S and provided with a detent 21)@ at one of its ends adapted to project through openings 2111 formed in said arm and the section 197.

The arm 195 is continuous with and normal to an arm 202 swingably interconnected to the outer case lid 73. Such interconnection is provided by a generaily T-shaped hanger comprising a cross-bar 204 riveted to the inner face of the lid molding 74, as at 265. The cross bar 204 is connected to an outwardly extending leg 266 having a sleeve-type clip 207 rigidly mounted thereon to which the arm 202 is swingably connected by a pivot pin 208. The clip 2117 is provided with an axially extending slot 209 which permits the arm 202 to be swung from a retracted position in which it is disposed in the plane of the molding 74 and in extended position in which it is generally normal to the plane of said molding. The inherent resiliency of the clip 2617 causes the edges of the slot 209 to be snapped around said arm 2132 when said arm is in its extended position shown in FIG. l for releasaoly locking the standard in its extended position.

To move the standard to its retracted position, the arms 181B and 262 are swung about their respective pivot pins 184 and 208 until the bight of said standard lies immediately adjacent the fabric sheet 31B along one side of the case. In such retracted position, the arm 193 is interposed between the shell panel 16 and the clip 174 and releasably retained in such retracted position by the spring action of said clip. The outer case may then be collapsed by releasing the detent 200 from the openings 201 in the stretch 197 and arm 198 to permit said arm to telescope downwardly into said stretch. As the hinge panel 50 and lid 7 3 are then folded into case-closed positions about the axes of the beads 58, 59, 86 and 87, the standard will pivot about the pin 195 into a fully retracted position with the stretch 197 being received between the panel 16 and clip 174 and the arms 202 and 180 being disposed in parallelism along the bottom of the case between the pivot plate 182 and the side wall upon which the clip is mounted. The standard is releasably retained in such retracted position by the clip 174 engaging the arm 193 and by the blisters 192 engaging the arm 180.

To extend the standard, the hinge panel 50 and lid 73 are swung outwardly into their fully opened positions in which they are generally coplanar with the shell molding 26 and back panel of the shell 15 formed by the portion of the sheet 30 connected to said molding. During such swinging movement, the standard will pivot about the pin l95 and the arm 193 will telescope outwardly with respect to the stretch 197 until the bight of said standard is in its fully extended position, the detent 204) locking said bight in such extended position. The standard may then be swung outwardly about the axes of the pins 134 and 263 into a position in which it is generally normal to the plane of the extended fabric sheet Sii. During such outward swinging movement of the standard, the arm 2G?. will be swung into the sleeve clip 257 through slot 269 and releasably retained in said clip by its inherent resiliency. The standard has length when it is extended corresponding to the combined length of the shell l5, hinge panel 50 and lid 73, so that in its fully extended position the standard arrn 189 projects outwardly from the shell l5 into a floor-engaging position to thus form a stable support for maintaining the case in its fully extended upright position shown in FIG. l.

A plurality of garment-supporting hangers are mounted on the standard, and to this end, each of said hangers is carried from the standard arm 202 by a ring 2l@ slidably received on said arm and connected to a flexible strap 23.2 having a headed stud 2li4 projecting outwardly therefrom. As shown in FiG. l, the straps 212 are of graduated lengths with the shorter lengths being disposed adjacen the sleeve 207 so that the hangers adjacent the standard bight are located at a greater distance from the arm 262 than the hangers adjacent the sleeve 257. Conveniently, to prevent the rings 2MB from sliding off of the arm 262, said arm is provided with an outwardly projecting pin 216 adjacent its interconnection with the arm 193.

Each of the hangers illustrated in the drawings comprises a stirrup Z hung over one of the studs 214. The stirrup supports a cross rod 220 and an arcuate rod 222 having loops 224 formed on each of its ends. To hang a mans suit on one of the hangers, the cuffs of the pants are laid over the rod 220 and the associated rod 222 is then sprung upwardly over the rod 220 and the pants cuits laid thereover for releasably retaining said cuffs on the rod 220. The loops 224 prevent the rod 222 from sliding off of the rod 220 to insure that the rod 222 bindingly retains said cuis against the rod 220. After the pants are placed on the hanger, the coat of the suit may then be hung over the overlapping rods 220 and 222.

In packing the outer case, the garments are hung on the hangers, and the hangers are then moved rearwardly toward the clip 207 so that said garments hang downwardly between the inner case and the portion of the sheet 35 disposed within the extent of the shell 1S, said inner case retaining the garments in a relatively xed position with respect to the outer case. The outer case and the standard are folded into closed position in the manner previously described; and, as the standard is swung about the axis of the pins S and 26S, the rings 210 and the straps 212 will move and twist relative to the standard arm 202 to thus retain the hangers in a transversely extending orientation with the garments carried thereon still remaining in the plane of the space between the inner case and sheet 30. As the outer case is folded to its closed position, the garments carried on the hangers will be folded over the upwardly presented face of the inner case, with said inner case providing a relatively broad surface over which said garments are smoothly folded. The graduated length of the straps 212 permits all of said garments to be folded over said inner case without bunching said garments together and thus creating excessive wrinkling. With the standard in its fully extended position as shown in FIG. l, the garments supported on the hangers will be hung in a vertically extending position for ready access.

I claim:

l. In a suitcase,

(a) a shell comprising a back panel and three upstanding side walls,

(b) a hinge panel swingably connected to said shell and swingable between an open position generally coplanar with said back panel and a closed position generally normal thereto and engaging the ends of a pair of said side walls,

(c) a lid swingably connected to said hinge panel and swingable with and with respect to said hinge panel between an open position generally coplanar with said nach panel and a closed position overlying said back panei and engaging said side walls,

(d) a generally U-shaped standard swingably interconnected at its ends to said shell and lid and provided with `telescoping and pivotal joints along its bight for movement between a retracted position in which its ends are disposed adjacent one shell side wall and its bight is disposed adjacent one of said side walis and an extended position in which it has a U-shaped conguration projecting outwardly from said shell generally normal to the plane of said back panel, and

(e) means for releasably locking said lid and hinge panel in closed position.

2. The invention as set forth in claim l with the addition that (a) said standard has a length in its extended position corresponding to the combined length of said shell, hinge panel, and lid, and

(b) means releasably locking said standard in extended position whereby said standard will releasably retain said lid and hinge panel in open position.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which (a) the ends of said standard are disposed in generally horizontal parallel relationship when said standard is in its extended position,

(b) the standard end interconnected to said shell projecting outwardly therefrom in extended position to form a ground-engaging foot for supporting the suitcase in an upright open position, and

(c) hanger means carried on the standard end interconnected lto said lid for supporting a plurality of garments thereon.

4. In a suitcase,

(a) a shell comprising a back panel and three upstanding side walls,

(b) a hinge panel swingably connected to said shell and swingable between an open position generally coplanar with said back panel and a closed position generally normal thereto and engaging the ends of a pair of said side walls,

(c) a lid swingably connected to said hinge panel and swingable with and with respect to said hinge panel between an open position generally coplanar with said back panel and a closed position overlying said back panel and engaging said side walls,

(d) a generally T-shaped member mounted on said lid and projecting inwardly from the lid edge remote from said hinge panel,

(e) a pivot plate mounted on the shell side wall remote from said hinge panel,

(f) a generally U-shaped standard swingably interconnected at one of its ends to said T-shaped member and at its opposite end to said pivot plate and provided with telescoping and pivotal joints along its bight for movement between a retracted position in which its ends are disposed adjacent one shell side wall and its bight is disposed adjacent one of said side walls and an extended position in which it has a U-shaped conguration projecting outwardly from said shell generally normal to the plane of said back panel, and

(g) means for releasably locking said lid and hinge panel in closed position.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 with the addition that (a) a sleeve having a locking slot formed therein is mounted on said T-shaped member and said one end of said standard is swingably connected to said sleeve, said one standard end being lockingly receivable in said sleeve for releasably locking said standard in extended position.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 4 with the addition that (a) said pivot plate is mounted on a reinforcing plate mounted on said shell side wall remote from the hinge panel, and

(b) said reinforcing plate is provided with locking means engageable with said opposite end of said standard for releasably locking said standard in retracted position.

7. The invention as set forth in claim l in which said standard comprises,

(a) a first generally L-shaped member having one of its ends swingably interconnected to said lid and its opposite end telescopically connected to one end of an intermediate member, and

(b) a second generally L-shaped member having one of its ends swingably interconnected to said shell and its opposite end swingably interconnected to the end of said intermediate member remote from said first generally L-shaped member.

8. In a suitcase,

(a) a shell comprising a generally U-shaped metal panel forming three upstanding side walls of said shell,

(b) first and second generally U-shaped molding strips rigidly mounted on the opposed longitudinal edges of said panel,

(c) a hinge panel having a pair of laterally spaced third molding strips,

(d) first hinge means swingably connected to said first and third molding strips for swinging movement of said hinge panel between an open position in which said first and third molding strips are generally coplanar and a closed position in which said third molding strips abut the ends of said shell side walls,

(e) a lid having a 4fourth generally U-shaped molding strip,

(f) second hinge means swingably connected to said third and fourth molding strips for swinging movement of said lid between an open position in which said first, third, and fourth molding strips are generally coplanar and a closed position in which said fourth molding strip is disposed on said second molding strip,

(g) a flexible sheet having marginal edges connected to said first, third, and fourth molding strips,

(h) means for releasably locking said lid and hinge panel in closed position,

(i) each of said third and fourth molding strips having a pair of channels generally normal to each other, (j) one of said channels on each of said third molding strips having an aligned portion of the marginal edge of said sheet carried therein and the other channel on each of said third molding strips being received over the end of one of said shell side walls when said hinge panel is in closed position, and

(k) one of said channels on said fourth molding strip having an aligned portion of the marginal edge of said sheet carried therein and the other channel in said fourth molding strip being received over said second molding strip when said lid is in closed position.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 in which (a) a plurality of gaskets are mounted in said other channels on said third and fourth molding strips to form seals between said hinge panel and shell and l0 said lid and shell, respectively, when the case is closed.

10. In a suitcase,

(a) a shell comprising a generally U-shaped metal panel forming three upstanding side walls of said shell,

(b) first and second generally U-shaped molding strips rigidly mounted on the opposed longitudinal edges of said panel,

(c) a hinge panel having a pair of laterally spaced third molding strips,

(d) first hinge means swingably connected to said first and third molding strips for swinging movement of said hinge panel between an open position in which said first and third molding strips are generally coplanar and a closed position in which said third molding strips abut the ends of said shell side walls,

(e) a lid having a fourth generally U-shaped molding strip,

(f) second hinge means swingably connected to said third and fourth molding strips for swinging movement of said lid between an open position in which said first, third and fourth molding strips are generally coplanar and a closed position in which said fourth molding strip is disposed on said second molding strip,

(g) a liexible sheet having marginal edges connected to said first, third, and fourth molding strips,

(h) means for releasably locking said lid and hinge panel in closed position,

(i a marginal hem carrying a stiffening member extending around the periphery of said sheet and received in channels formed in said first, third, and fourth molding strips, and

(j) gasket means carried in said channels and bindingly retaining said hem therein.

l1. In a suitcase,

(a) a first case having a shell comprising a back panel and three upstanding side walls,

(b) a hinge panel swingably connected to said shell and swingable between an open position generally coplanar with said back panel and a closed position generally normal thereto and engaging the ends of a pair of said side walls,

(c) a lid swingably connected to said hinge panel and swingable with and with respect to said hinge panel between an open position generally coplanar with said back panel and a closed position overlying said back panel and engaging said side walls,

(d) a second case removably carried in said first case in spaced relation to said shell, hinge panel, and lid,

(e) a generally U-shaped standard swingably interconnected at its ends to said shell and lid and provided with telescoping and pivotal joints along its bight for movement between a retracted position in which its ends are disposed adjacent one shell side wall and its bight is disposed adjacent one of said side walls and an extended position in which it has a U-shaped configuration projecting outwardly from said shell generally normal to the plane of said back panel,

(f) a plurality of hangers slidably carried on the end of said standard connected to said lid for supporting garments thereon, and

(g) means for releasably locking said lid and hinge panel in closed position.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 11 in which (a) said hangers are supported from said standard on a plurality of iiexible straps, the straps adjacent the standard bight being longer than the straps adjacent the lid and standard interconnection.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 11 in which (a) said second case is carried in said first case on mounting means mounted on the opposed inner faces of a pair of said side walls, and

(b) the bight of said standard is interposed between l i. one end of said second case and one of said pair of side walls when said standard is in its retracted position.

14. The invention as set forth in claim 13 with the addition that (a) the mounting means on said one of said pair of side walls is provided with a spring clip for releasably retaining said standard bight in retracted position.

15. In a suitcase,

(a) a shell comprising a generally U-shaped rigid panel forming three upstanding side walls,

(b) first and second generally U-shaped molding strips rigidly mounted on the opposed longitudinal edges of said panel,

(c) a pair of third molding strips at the ends of a pair of said side walls,

(d) a rst transversely extending plate interconnecting said rst and third molding strips,

(e) a lid having a fourth generally U-shaped molding strip,

(f) a second transversely extending plate swingably interconnecting said third and fourth molding strips for swinging movement of said lid from an open position to a closed position in which said fourth molding strip is disposed on said second molding strip,

(g) a iiexible sheet having its marginal edges connected to said rst, third, and fourth molding strips,

(h) means for releasably locking said lid and hinge panel in closed position,

(i) a pair of transversely spaced brackets mounted on the adjacent ends of said tirst and second transversely extending plates, and

(j) a carrying handle operatively interconnected to said pair of brackets.

16. The invention as set forth in claim 15 in which (a) a pair of fth molding strips are mounted on the ends of said panel for the reception of said third molding strips upon closing of the lid,

(b) said first, second, and fifth molding strips have channels bindingly crimped over the edges of said panel, and

' (c) pairs of braces having outwardly projecting lips are disposed at the ends of said panel, one brace in each pair having its lips bindingly crimped in the channels in said second and lifth molding strips and the other brace in each pair having its lips bindingly crimped in the channels in said rst and fth channels.

l7, In a suitcase,

(a) a shell comprising a generally U-shaped metal panel forming three upstanding side walls of said shell, (b) first and second generally U-shaped molding strips rigidly mounted on the opposed longitudinal edges of said panel,

(c) a hinge panel having a pair of laterally spaced third molding strips,

(d) tirst hinge means comprising a transversely extending web interconnecting a pair of beads rotatably carried in aligned openings formed in said trst and third molding strips for swinging movement of said l hinge'panel between an open position in which said first and third molding strips are generally coplanar and a closed position in which said third molding strips abut the ends of said side walls,

(e) a lid having a fourth generally U-shaped molding strip,

(f) second hinge means comprising a transversely extending web interconnecting pairs of beads rotatably carried in aligned openings formed in said third and fourth molding strips for swinging movement of said lid between an open position in which said first, third, and fourth molding strips are generally coplanar and a closed position in which said fourth molding strip is disposed on said second molding strip,

(g) a llexible sheet having marginal edges connected to said first, third, and fourth molding strips, and

(h) means for releasably locking said lid and hinge panel in closed position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stein May 14, 1940 

1. IN A SUITCASE, (A) A SHELL COMPRISING A BACK PANEL AND THREE UPSTANDING SIDE WALLS, (B) A HINGE PANEL SWINGABLY CONNECTED TO SAID SHELL AND SWINGABLE BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION GENERALLY COPLANAR WITH SAID BACK PANEL AND A CLOSED POSITION GENERALLY NORMAL THERETO AND ENGAGING THE ENDS OF A PAIR OF SAID SIDE WALLS, (C) A LID SWINGABLY CONNECTED TO SAID HINGE PANEL AND SWINGABLE WITH AND WITH RESPECT TO SAID HINGE PANEL BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION GENERALLY COPLANAR WITH SAID BACK PANEL AND A CLOSED POSITION OVERLYING SAID BACK PANEL AND ENGAGING SAID SIDE WALLS, (D) A GENERALLY U-SHAPED STANDARD SWINGABLY INTERCONNECTED AT ITS ENDS TO SAID SHELL AND LID AND PROVIDED WITH TELESCOPING AND PIVOTAL JOINTS ALONG ITS BIGHT FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITION IN WHICH ITS ENDS ARE DISPOSED ADJACENT ONE SHELL SIDE WALL AND ITS BIGHT IS DISPOSED ADJACENT ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS AND AN EXTENDED POSITION IN WHICH IT HAS A U-SHAPED CONFIGURATION PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID SHELL GENERALLY NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF SAID BACK PANEL, AND (E) MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING SAID LID AND HINGE PANEL IN CLOSED POSITION. 